Connie Nielsen, Paul Mescal, and Denzel Washington looked effortlessly stylish at the premiere of Gladiator II on Monday night, but they were upstaged by a few guests who took the ancient Rome theme to extremes.
The three Hollywood heavyweights, all stars of Ridley Scott’s highly anticipated sequel to his 2000 blockbuster, dominated the red carpet at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles with their show-stopping style.
Nielsen, 59, turned heads in a chic black gown with a sheer skirt that subtly revealed her underwear, adding a daring touch to the glamorous event.
Mescal, 28, looked effortlessly charming in a relaxed yet sharp suit, exuding the cool charisma that has made him a breakout star.
Meanwhile, Oscar winner Denzel, 69, kept it classic in an all-black suit, his arm wrapped around his wife of 41 years, Pauletta.
But despite their polished looks, the trio was upstaged by a parade of guests who embraced the Gladiator theme with over-the-top costumes, delivering some of the evening’s most questionable fashion moments.
Paul Mescal looked effortlessly stylish at the premiere of Gladiator II on Monday night, but he was upstaged by a few guests who took the ancient Rome theme to extremes
But Paul’s polished looks, he was upstaged by a parade of guests who embraced the Gladiator theme with over-the-top costumes, delivering some of the evening’s most questionable fashion moments; (James Charles, Manila Luzon and Devin Brugman)
Beauty influencer James Charles fully embraced the Gladiator theme with a gold-plated chest plate and baggy pleated pants, but the look veered more into costume territory than high fashion.
Drag queen Manila Luzon brought the glam with a warrior Cleopatra ensemble, though it read more themed event than red carpet chic.
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Social media star Devin Brugman showcased her famous curves in a loincloth-inspired outfit, but it felt more daring than polished for the high-profile premiere. A bold choice, but perhaps not one for the fashion hall of fame.
The guests were also joined by a who’s who of Hollywood, including Snoop Dogg, Kumail Nanjiani, Tia Carrere, and more, making for an unforgettable evening.
The premiere comes on the heels of glowing reviews for Denzel’s performance.
Critics have declared he ‘stole the entire picture’ with his electrifying portrayal of the sly, ambitious Mecrinus.
Denzel has earned praise for his ‘pure camp’ line delivery, with many noting that he is ‘palpably revelling’ in playing the ‘smug, self-satisfied schemer.’
Though Mescal takes the lead as the vengeful Roman heir-turned-gladiator, he’s been described as the ‘pumping heart of the movie,’ exuding both charisma and testosterone in every scene.
Connie Nielsen, 59, turned heads in a chic black gown with a sheer skirt that subtly revealed her underwear, adding a daring touch to the glamorous event
Oscar winner Denzel Washington, 69, kept it classic in an all-black suit, his arm wrapped around his wife of 41 years, Pauletta
Avani Gregg attended premiere in a white goddess gown
Olivia Walker, JaNa Craig and Kaylor Martin rocked barely-there outfits
While critics remain divided on whether Gladiator II lives up to the original, it has still been hailed as a triumph.
One reviewer noted the film is ‘watchable and spectacular,’ while The Daily Mail’s Brian Viner called it ‘heaps of far-fetched and ferocious fun’ — though he conceded it doesn’t quite reach the heights of its masterpiece predecessor.
He writes: ‘Even though this sequel rarely scales the soaring heights of the first film, and takes some right Roman liberties with historical truths, it is still worthy of a firm-ish thumbs-up.
Meanwhile, the Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw suggests that Denzel was the stand-out star of the film, writing: ‘As the slave-owner and slave-trainer, Denzel Washington inherits Oliver Reed’s role; he plays the cunning and ambitious Macrinus.’
Meanwhile, castmember Pedro Pascal joked about his quest to become the ‘ultimate babe’ while discussing his role in Gladiator II.
The Mandalorian superstar, 49, revealed that he had been hitting the gym in preparation for Ridley Scott’s highly anticipated sequel to the 2000 blockbuster.
With a cast that includes Mescal, Washington, and Joseph Quinn—dubbed the ‘hottest ever’ —Pedro made it clear that his fitness journey was motivated by the role, not by a desire for a beauty makeover.
‘I got stronger than I’ve ever been just so that I could play the character, really,’ he told ET on Sunday. ‘I was under no single directive from the movie to get in any kind of shape. But I did, mainly so that I wouldn’t get hurt—and it didn’t work: I got hurt anyway.’
When asked what drives him, Pedro then said, ‘Waking up and doing your best.’ The interviewer quipped, ‘Only a babe would say that,’ to which Pedro laughed and declared, ‘I achieved ultimate babe status.’
Pedro also joked that he couldn’t have gotten in too great of shape since director Ridley recently congratulated him on ‘losing his belly’ just months after production wrapped.
The Last Of Us star plays Roman general Acacius, who trained as a gladiator beneath Crowe’s character Maximus, who died at the end of the first Gladiator film.
Last week, the Gladiator II cast was branded the ‘hottest ever’ by fans who went wild for a video featuring three of the actors in the upcoming film.
In the clip posted on X, Perdro, Mescal and Quinn revealed that fans can now book tickets for the Ridley Scott epic ahead of its theatrical release on November 22.
‘People of the internet,’ Quinn, best known for his role on Netflix’s Stranger Things, began the group’s message, before Pascal added: ‘Are you ready to be entertained?’ – a reference to the original movie.
‘I am entertained,’ Mescal, who plays the lead, continued.
‘Get tickets now to see Gladiator II,’ Pascal addressed fans, as Quinn finished: ‘In theatres everywhere.’
The video has over 1.5 million views, as fans gushed over the cast’s collective sex appeal.
Reposting the video, one X user’s cheeky comment read: ‘My ovaries cannot wait to see this movie.’
Denzel rounds out the cast of Gladiator II, with Connie Nielsen and Derek Jacobi reprising their roles from the 2000 film starring Russell Crowe.
The 69-year-old Oscar winner plays arms dealer Macrinus in the Gladiator sequel as seen in the film’s first trailer that was unveiled in July, as one X user noted Washington is ‘the only one with sauce’ in it.
‘He looks the coolest he’s ever f***ing looked,’ another added.
When the film’s second trailer was released last month, fans praised ‘the gravitas he brings’ to the role.
Another noted Washington ‘will be doing the heavy lifting’ in Gladiator II, while a third declared he is ‘probably our best living actor’.
‘The gravitas he brings to every role is unmatched,’ they added. ‘The way he’s so effortless in really any genre.’
A third said: ‘Denzel has this aura.’
‘Fine as wine,’ one X user summed up Washington’s enduring appeal.
Gladiator II is set to have its world premiere at the 72nd Royal Film Performance on Wednesday 13th November, ahead of its UK release just two days later (star Paul Mescal is pictured)
Denzel Washington rounds out the cast of Gladiator II, with Connie Nielsen and Derek Jacobi reprising their roles from the original
In an interview about Gladiator II, the Pescal told Vanity Fair: ‘[Acacius] learned from the best, so of course this code of honour is ingrained into his training and into his existence. But at the end of the day, he’s a different person. And that can’t change who he is.
‘Maximus is Maximus, and that can’t be replicated. That just makes Acacius capable of different things,’ he teased.
Meanwhile, Mescal opened up about his physical transformation for the film, explaining that he trained to look like a warrior – not a ‘sex symbol’.
‘I just wanted to be big and strong and look like somebody who can cause a bit of damage when s**t hits the fan,’ he said. ‘I think also, sometimes, one could, in striving for that perfect look, end up looking more like an underwear model than a warrior.